Historical Society asks legislature to lift decades-old cap, fund Route 66 projects and storage

The Oklahoma Historical Society told the committee it needs a modest but recurring increase in its capital-improvement cap and several one-time appropriations to keep museums and historic sites in good repair as Route 66 centennial programming draws larger audiences.

Director Thompson said the society currently receives a capped share of sales and use tax proceeds that were fixed at 2015 levels, and she asked the Legislature to approve Senate Bill 38 to raise the cap to what it would have been in 2024. "SB 38 ... would be a little bit over $2,200,000," Thompson told senators, an increase she estimated would add about $654,875 annually to cover deferred maintenance and projects such as HVAC replacement and ADA upgrades.

The society also requested one-time appropriations: $583,287 to install new exhibits at the Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca City and $449,550 for high-density archival storage at the Oklahoma History Center to avoid renting outside space. Thompson highlighted recent awards—$1,100,000 in civil-rights-trail grants to 28 organizations and $577,000 in heritage preservation grants to 40 nonprofits—and noted the society is matching private funds to complete the OK POP museum fundraising target.

Why it matters: Thompson said Route 66 centennial programming could attract significant tourism statewide, citing tourism-department estimates of 6–8 million people traveling in connection with Route 66 events. She told senators museums charge admission (the History Center is $12.50; other sites $10) and that increased visitorship could help but is hard to predict.

Next steps: The society will continue soliciting contractor and exhibit bids for OK POP and said board approval is pending for the next round of heritage-preservation awards. Thompson offered to provide additional cost and project schedules upon request.